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The Stillness in Action // Jessef Leslie

         It's amazing how different cultures and religions have similar traditions. The description of the early catholic chants as "simple, free, monotone, and flowing..." reminded me of the different chants and mantras done by Buddhists, Hindus, and Jews. All of the chants seem to prioritize the "flow-state". St. Augustine says "the music should not distract from the worshiper's meditation on God"(Aesthetic Considerations Regarding the Chant 37) and he couldn't be more right; all of these cultures avoid the distractions of the mind and music by enhancing the other senses (sight, hearing, touch, and smell). This quieting of the mind is done with candles, beads, art, and space for resonation. 

       The idea that the chant itself is a part of the meditation connects all of the cultures above. The chants must be smooth and easy to remember, yet still varying and powerful enough to keep the worshippers engaged. Once engaged, the mind becomes focused on the task of music to the point where it can worship, meditate, or pray without the thoughts we have everyday such as: what will I eat tomorrow, did I do all of my homework, did someone eat the pizza I hid in the back of the fridge... This moment in the present is where people can feel their connection to God and the universe flowing at the same moment with them, but as soon as we realize we are in the moment, it


Have you ever sung any chants that swept you away with the sound?


Commented on Hailey Riddle's and Madalyn Dillard's post


Comments

  1. Emmett BryantFebruary 8, 2021 at 11:31 AM

    I enjoyed your post. It was really cool to see the connections between the different religions and their takes on meditation. Meditation seems to be a touchy subject among western evangelicals these days but it has always had a place in our faith, all the way back to the early Church.

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  2. Ian BlairFebruary 8, 2021 at 2:56 PM

    I think that chants allow certain ideas to be reinforced in a belief system so newer followers can understand the main purpose of the beliefs while experienced officials are constantly reminded of the basics so as to not lose their way. The flowing feel of some chants makes them easily memorable and that ultimately is the goal when creating chants: have members remember your teachings.

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  3. ClaboFebruary 8, 2021 at 5:22 PM

    I completely agree with you. Sometimes the simplicity of music is also what has its greatest affect on listeners. There are songs that are not complicated at all, but when I listen to them I am immediately set at ease. It is almost as if their simplicity forces me to relax, breath, and reevaluate whatever is going on in any given situation. I feel like this is the same intent with chants and any form of worship.

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  4. Jamie PetersFebruary 8, 2021 at 8:20 PM

    That was a clever ending to your post, Jessef, and I agree. Personally, we do not do a lot of chanting at my church, but I do remember a specific Easter were my Music Leader sang "Ave Maria" off stage while scenes from "The Passion of the Christ" played. The atmosphere of the church was almost trancelike; we were able to process the sacrifice of Jesus without distractions for at least that moment.

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  5. Haylee LyndFebruary 8, 2021 at 11:24 PM

    I love what you're saying about focusing on God rather than our everyday lives. I can sometimes be so easily distracted during the sermon and even during certain songs, but the songs that are simple enough for me to memorize and sing along to, yet engaging enough to keep me focused are great tools to help me feel connected to God.

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